The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-19
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY. !: JAN. 10, 1857.
BATES nEssAGE-THE BUREAU.

BATES MEsbA6E-IHE BUREAU.
One OF the most valuable institutions
in Tennessee, and one that has been
productive OF much wealth to the
state, is the Agricultural Bureau. A
variety Of most important objects are
attended 10 by this Buresu. II is
detector continually travelling over the
State, by land and water, over ground
and underground, and searching air,
earth, plant, vegetable, insect and
bird TO know what nature has con-
ierred upon Us, and to point out how
what Is good in those gifts can be
made available, and wha. is bad neu-
tralissd or destroyed. Statistics, agri-
culture, iertil 1srs, entomology, &c.
ology, mining and immigration,
all come under the operations OF
this Board. There are some men
who boast Of being practical" and
who objsct to paying men to perform
such duties as fall upon this BOARD,
because the first result is not in q ma
tsrial shape that can be put on the
market and bring money. Such men
are to be pitied for their mole-like
blindness. The man who tells III
where ton OF treasure is buried does
lar more than anyone who carries 1T
load by load TO the storehouse. Such
are the official deeds Of the Tennessee
bureau. II points out where lies the
iron and the coal; II tells what will
hest grow in one coil, and what fer
tiIisers are necessary in another. Its
professors ought to be held in special
honor, they are prophets that reveal
good and warn of evil. By the
aid oIsuch men as Mr.. McWhirter the
natural advantages and treasures Of
Tennessee have been published to the
world, outside capital has been attract.
ed, and better still, our own citizens
have been induced to invest in de-
veloping the resources OF the State,
and the results are glorious. The
Governors message renders credit, as
tho Bureau 90 well deserves. Harm.
ful insects are identified and how to
destroy them pointed out. Treasures
underground are detected and become
available, 80 that now, for instance,
the message OF the Governor informs
ae that Tennessee coal goes as far
South az Texas and as far Wet as Cali
fornia, where il is in request by the
silver smelters. The agriculturalist is
informed OF the qualities OF his soil, OF
its adaptation to particular grains and
grasses, He learns about stock raising
and the adaptsbility OF different grasses
ior their food. In the matter Of fertil-
is,rs the value OF the Bureau Is great,
and fertilizers become an object OF
more attention every year, the
Bureau, and the farmers clubs and
journals, are working revolution In
our agricultural methods. Prof.
DJIan, Of the Bureau, chronological,
has got up valuable report
upon the destructive insects Of
the State, showing how to decrease
their number or exterminate them.
With surprise we learn from the mes.
sage that this has been done without
compensation. Tennessee should not
disregard Its benefactorS. "The rapid
development OF Tenneseee's varied re-
sources" says the message, during
the past few years, is due, in a great
measure, to the valuable work OF DR..
Stafford on the geology of the State.
The report Of Mr.. Guild, the inspector
Of mines, has aided the progress Of
our mining industry and is a factor in
Tennessee's progress" 30 that the
number Of men employed in the Ten
nessee mines, wL.Sl in 1885 was $500,
is now 4l40. The increasing pros
perity Of the State, the abandonment
al many old tools and methods, the
greater knowledge OF mixed crops,
and the extension OF our modes of
gaining living from the surface of
the earth, and from its bosom, ia in no
small degree owing to the influence,
che diigent lsbors aud the broadcast
giits OF valuable knowledge emanating
from the Agricultural Bureau.